Stew’s take: I am a 41-year-old sports fan who appreciates a good game and good fellowship. A good sports bar has different meanings to different people, and as I have grown older, the expectations have certainly changed.

1. First, this was the best experience I’ve had at a Midland sports bar. We went for the early round of NFL games on Sunday, and the place was packed. It looked and felt like a sports bar. There were plenty of games on for those interested in other teams, and there was audio piped in from the main game (the Dallas Cowboys game).

2. If you don’t like the Cowboys or Texans, you will be taken care of. There were plenty of teams (Saints, Vikings, Pats, Titans) represented, judging by the different jerseys and different reactions from around the restaurant when a team would make a big play.

3. And for fantasy players, it will work. There are some people who like watching multiple games for the fantasy football aspect. I’m not one, but Triple Threat has those players covered. Sadly, my protege Boy Wonder showed there is a downside to being with that guy. With the Cowboys up 31-7, he’s pleading for the Cowboys’ game plan to include more passes to Jason Witten.

4. OMG, that’s a good burger. A buddy told me the burgers won’t disappoint, and he was right. The burger and fries were perfect (and that means the right amount of grease). The menu looks as good as I have seen with all the normal starters, cheesesteaks, sandwiches and burgers. Everything looks reasonably priced.

5. Wow, that’s a lot of drinks. I’m pretty sure the extraordinary list of shots, drinks and beers would appeal more to the younger audience, but if you like variety in your drinks, Triple Threat has it (please drink responsibly). Oddly, Boy Wonder looked at the wine choices and said “I’ve never thought ‘I could go for some good wine right now.’” Sadly, when Busch beer is not on the menu, you never know what might come out of his mouth.

6. High or low, it does matter. The view from the higher table tops makes the experience. There are a bunch of the taller tables, but it would be wise to get there a little early to get a good seat.

7. OK, it’s a little rough around the edges. People at the next table just might be smokers, there are a few ceiling tiles that could be replaced, and its location is a little out of the way for some in north Midland, but these are pretty minor complaints. There is shuffleboard, pool and Golden Tee for those who have more than game-watching on the things-to-do list.

Nick's take: For a 22-year-old Midland transplant, finding a restaurant or bar to watch sporting events I’m interested in can be quite a mountain to climb. Choosing from an already limited list of locations, finding somewhere serving people my age with the quality service I hope for and without the distractions I detest seems nearly impossible. So, I am partnering with my 41-year-old boss in a valiant quest to find some ideal sports-viewing venues in Midland. This week, we tried out Triple Threat Sports Bar & Grill.

1. Community viewing: We visited Triple Threat on Sunday afternoon, and the room was peppered with jerseys from a handful of different NFL teams (mostly the Cowboys). Strangers occasionally leaned over to one another to comment on exciting or heart-wrenching plays. If you are looking for a community viewing experience, you can find it here.

2. Unhealthy goodness: When I look at any menu and see cheese, bacon and meat in the same sentence, I always order that item — no questions asked. I used this strategy at Triple Threat and was distracted from the heart problems I will probably incur later in life by a terrific bacon cheeseburger and fries.

3. Decisions, decisions: If a bacon cheeseburger doesn’t tickle your fancy, you have a wide selection of your standard bar foods to choose from. Also, they had a separate, heavily populated alcoholic drinks menu with plenty of options.

4. Generational spread: The crowd of NFL fanatics was an even mixture of young bucks and seasoned vets. I didn’t feel like I was watching the game with a roomful of people old enough to be my parents, while it wasn’t too loud or overwhelming for my weathered counterpart’s more time-tested tastes. We were a good example of the diversity. As I constantly updated my phone’s fantasy football app, Rip Van Winkle explained his soreness from his first yoga experience the day before. (“That was tougher than I thought!”)

5. Plan accordingly: As great as the atmosphere was, it was crowded, and people were wandering through the room looking for seats. So, if you decide to go to Triple Threat for a game, arrive early. There are plenty of arcade games to burn pregame time.

Clarification about Torino’s Pizza Bar

In last week’s review of Torino’s Pizza Bar, we wrote — based on our conversations with different servers — that Torino’s does not offer sports packages. The information we received was not accurate, according to the restaurant’s owner.

Gene Roumell offered this clarification to the Reporter-Telegram. Torino’s offers:

NFL Sunday Ticket (every NFL game played), ESPN Game Plan (college football games not broadcast on the other packages)

MLB Extra Innings (every baseball game played other than the Yankees who have their own network)